Alice Mabel Allen (1886-1976) grew up in the village of Adams in Jefferson County. In 1908, while attending Syracuse University, Mabel, as she was known, kept a diary which New York Almanack is publishing each week.
Monday, May 4
Slept with Christine last night as Fuzzie and Lillian wanted to get up early. Helen and I studied this morning. I walked down with her to the Castle where we sat in the sun and ate loly pops. After Latin went over to library to look up ‘Fate’ in ‘Romeo and Juliet.’
Lu and I planned to go walking but Myrtle Heath came over and then just as we started out, Mildred Bemis and Edith came. We went over to library where Mrs. Sibley showed us the Von Ranke library and a book 800 years old. Showed Mildred stadium. After tea went down with Harriet to see Mrs. Lewis’ rooms but did not like them. Studied in Lu’s room. Early to bed.
Tuesday, May 5
Letter from Edna [her sister]. Conference with Mr. Smith on long theme. Studied math with Helen. After dinner Helen came up to do Latin and math. Walked up to Liberal with her and then went down to dressmaker to plan white dress. Wrote letter to mother asking for more material. After dinner walked with Cassie and then went over to see Edith who showed me a picture of Stanford girls trying for Δ Δ Δ. Walked over to library with her and Viva Baker. Studied Latin and copied report.
Wednesday, May 6
Got up early and finished copying report. Quiz in Trig. Spring quiz in English on the poetry and I failed in it almost entirely. Helen and I tried to study math for Monday but it was hard. Went downstreet with her after Latin. Bought velvet for Edna and looked for lace someplace. Went to library to see painting exhibition; rode home. Brought candy to Harriet. Played bridge with Christine, Clara and Bea. Slept with Fuzzie in Cassie’s room.
Thursday, May 7
Slept late. Read Journal [her father’s weekly paper] last period and wrote up History notes. Also wrote to Rollin T. Went to down to dressmaker’s to try on white dress. I am going to like it, I think. Edith phoned saying Louise could not come on account of illness. We had expected her for moving-up day. This evening we fooled around with nothing much to do. I read the Smart Set and endeavored to study a little.
Friday, May 8
“Moving Up” day and so no work on the hill. The sophomores and juniors were up nearly all night and I was getting out of bed at night and running to the window. All the halls and cottages were decorated in green and yellow. The juniors were white and I sat with Ethel Fennel in the junior row.
Saturday, May 9
Slept last night with Fuzzie and Cassie, but were all so tired we did not mind. Everyone had company. After English I hurried down to station and found mother in the waiting room. She thot best I have a new suit, so we finally decided on a blue one at Bacon & Chapell’s. Mother bought a black silk coat. We went to Hunter & Tuppen’s for lunch and in afternoon went down to Dr. Sherwood’s and then took curtain to rug factory to be dyed. Went into Schrafft’s for chocolate and then took mother to train. Met Lillian and her aunt at 6:30 and later we went to the grand. It was very good.
Sunday, May 10
Fuzzie slept with me in Cassie’s room. Went to St. Paul’s with Lu, Christine and Fuzzie. After dinner I read Roman History and Mabel Gibbons came in to do Latin until Lu came for me to go to Vespers. We walked both ways. After lunch walked with Lu and Harriet. Finished Latin and am going to bed early as I have to get up early in the morning. Grace came back to-night. Wrote no letter home.
Read more entries from Mabel’s diary.
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